Tourist for the Day

by Meghann on September 28, 2008

Today I did what usually most Florida residents never do…..

I went to the Kennedy Space Center visitors complex for the day.

I grew up right next to the space center, I have seen countless numbers of shuttles go up and come back down and my junior prom was actually held at the visitors center. I remember bits and pieces of going on field trips a couple of times to the space center in the elementary school, but I have never actually been on a weekend, as a tourist, with my family.

Once a year the space center has a ‘free’ weekend for their local loyal residents. This is the only time that anyone from the area goes there and until yesterday I didn’t even know it existed. My lil bro got a job working there over the summer and he filled us in on the details. My parents and I figured, why not?, and decided to waste our Sunday for free at the space center.

So, yeah. Apparently when you scream FREE people come a calling. Today was nothing but lines. We waited in line to get a ticket, we waited in line to go on the buses, we waited in line for food, we waited in line for the bathroom…. basically we might as well have been at Disney. It was awful. Lines are the reason I don’t like to play the role of tourist. It was interesting to get to see the Space Center, but I don’t think I’ll be going back for ‘free’ anytime soon.

On the way to the space center I snacked on one of my free Kashi bars I picked up yesterday.

We stopped for lunch at the Saturn IV. My lil bro works at the grill there so we were able to steal him away to have lunch with us.

Isn’t my little bro so cute in his little uniform??

I was afraid of of what my choices would be for lunch, but was pleasantly surprised to see a few healthy choices in line for food.

I selected the Vegetarian Wrap which had baby spinach, carrots, tomato, marinated sweet pepper, sliced mushrooms, shredded cheese, with hummus spread in flour tortilla. It was actually really good. My brother very happily he told me he probably assembled my wrap earlier in the day. I hope that means he will be able to recreate this for me at home.

My mom and I split this bowl of fruit. I had about 75% of it you know I love my fruit. The yogurt was left untouched. I also stole a couple of my Dad’s fries and a small bite of my brother’s chicken tenders.

After the space center we headed to my parent’s friends birthday dinner. I really was not feeling the food they were offering so I headed back home for a yummy healthy meal. After my weekend of eats, I desperately wanted to inhale something I created with my own two hands.

By the time I got home I was starving, so I threw together a bunch of quick and easy things.

I made Oven Baked Eggplant Parmesan, wheat bulgar and frozen corn.

For the Oven Baked Eggplant Parmesean I dipped slices of eggplant into a bowl of egg whites and then coated with panko crumbs. I baked the eggplant in the over at 415 degrees for 10 minutes. I then flipped the eggplant and topped it with tomato sauce and mozzerella and baked for 10 more minutes. It was easy and delicious.

It wasn’t until I started mixing the ingredients that I realized I didn’t have baking soda. I didn’t want to run to the store so I did a little google search and found this nifty site that informed me I could substitute baking powder for baking soda, I just had to use three times the amount called for. I thought this was a great dip and wanted to share it with the class. I also subbed the raisins with chocolate chips.

I had two right out of the oven. They were yummy. Not too sweet, just the way I like my oatmeal cookies. Thanks Megan for the great recipe!

OOOH MY those cookies look great!!! i have almost all of the ingredients to make them (can’t keep chocolate chips in the house as my hand always finds the bag) but when i do, i’ll definitely give these a try. the pilot would like them
your bro does look cute in his uniform!! i haven’t been to the space center since i was little, but remember being stoked that they had dippin dots there!
enjoy the rest of your night!

I love doing the touristy things in Florida =] I live here, too, but sometimes it’s fun. I like going to St Augustine to shop on St George Street… and that’s only about a 25 minute drive from my house.